Whoa, that took a while
This is my first update on this web site since March. Part of the issue is that I really never liked this current design I made around the start of the year and that my focus has shifted a bit thanks to my weight-loss plan. I have instead launched a third Web site Even Not Odd with the help of WordPress. I know, I have stood by Textpattern for the last four years, and I continue to use it for Cartophobic, but I needed something that didn’t need for me to design it from scratch for now. If I feel the need, I will switch to Textpattern, but I need something else to do in the meantime.
So check it out if you haven’t already.
permalink | Comment | observations | 08/28/2009
Breaking my own rules
I have some general rules to live by. Most of them are uniquely mine, but they’re my form of discipline. This one rule has lasted since 1994, but I have broken it a few times just out of curiosity. This rule is: I don’t watch movies originally released between January and April of any year. I call this season on the film year “The Mob Money-Laundering, Alimony-Paying” season.
At least 90 percent of all films released during this season are awful and are only made to get box-office dollars fast. It’s kind of like those income tax refund loans. You get your money in hand only to get stuck with the payments and interest for life. These movies have a very similar feeling to them.
Granted, there have been some films (“Sin City,” “Inside Man”) that stand out as great movies in this terrible season, but there aren’t that many. Yet, this month, I have already broken that rule with bad results and am tempted to break it again.
I saw “Watchmen two weeks ago when I had a free pass to watch it. After the 40 minutes of trailers and commercials I had to sit through before it started, I knew I wanted to go home. And I should have done so. I paid too much to see it.
But now, I really want to see “Duplicity.” I will watch just about any Clive Owen movie there is, and while I’m not a Julia Roberts fan, I’m willing to overcome that. Plus, I met one of the film’s producers a few months back, and I would like to show my support for her work.
So, maybe Wednesday, as an award for surviving this difficult month, I might go see this and get Thai food afterward.
permalink | Comment | film | 03/24/2009
There goes a thought
I liked it when Twitter was just a “me” thing. You know how you discover a song and it’s your own for a while until it’s used in a commercial for a cell phone company and everyone begins to have it as their ringtone. Yeah, Twitter is like that now.
This sense was heightened following all the articles about celebrities who tweet that come out every two weeks. Plus, the big hoopla over the congressmen and women who were twittering during President Obama’s speech last month. Is it necessary to do some much on this?
Well, in a way I’m just adding on to the fad. And I call it a fad now because it will probably become obsolete once some other programmer comes up with a way that thoughts can appear instantly on a computer screen without touching a keyboard. It will become like MySpace when Hollywood took over.
In case you want to follow me, I’m at http://twitter.com/nevermindher.
permalink | Comment [1] | internet | 03/04/2009
And then there were five
I usually make my Oscar predictions a lot sooner than now, but for the first time I had the chance to see all five Best Picture nominees. So here is my list for the major categories:
Best Picture
Should: Frost/Nixon
Will: Slumdog Millionaire
Would Like To See Win: Frost/Nixon
Best Actor
Should: Mickey Rourke
Will: Sean Penn
Would Like To See Win: Richard Jenkins
Best Actress
Should: Meryl Streep
Will: Kate Winslet
Would Like To See Win: Melissa Leo
Best Supporting Actor
Should: Heath Ledger
Will: Heath Ledger
Would Like To See Win: Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress
Should: Viola Davis
Will: Penelope Cruz
Would Like To See Win: Taraji P. Henson
Best Director
Should: Danny Boyle
Will: Danny Boyle
Would Like To See Win: Gus Van Sant
Best Original Screenplay
Should: Milk
Will: Milk
Would Like To See Win: Wall-E
Best Adapted Screenplay
Should: Frost/Nixon
Will: Slumdog Millionaire
Would Like To See Win: Frost/Nixon
permalink | Comment | film | 02/22/2009
Breaking up
Today, February 4, is the day I have longed for. After 11 years, four states, five jobs and several letters and cards, I’m ending my relationship with Wachovia. In the years, the bank that was founded on Moravian roots has accidentally given me $100 of someone else’s money, charged me $220 in unjustified overdraft fees, send checks to two states before they came my way, sold two of my accounts to two separate banks, gave thieves a free college checking account and platinum credit card in my name, and now lie about what my savings account requirements were and then charge me an extra fee on top of it.
When I called customer service about the fee, they said that it was all my fault. I told them that another agent told me about a different set of requirements, but they didn’t believe me. So I closed the account. They asked me if the reason was that I couldn’t keep up with requirements, and I said it was because someone lied about my account and now I’m charged for that lie. I proceeded to tell them off and will close my checking account later this week.
Too bad they can’t use my bank fees for gambling in Vegas or can they?
